Laurie Baker

     Laurie Baker (Bremer), age 61, passed away peacefully on March 13th, 2018 after a brief struggle with COPD. Laurie was born on April 20, 1956 in Spokane, WA as the daughter of Nancy Donelson (Springer) and Richard Bremer.
     Laurie (a true Spokane girl) attended Finch Elementary School, Glover Middle School and Shadle Park High School. Laurie grew up loving to spend time with her sisters, Vickie and Suzie, and the three “Bremer” girls were inseparable and partners in crime. It became apparent at an early age that good athleticism ran in Laurie’s genes, her Dad being an outstanding baseball player and Mom a collegiate diver at the University of Washington, as Laurie grew into a world class gymnast. She carried the torch at the National Junior Olympics in 1972. While at Shadle Park High School, she won the state high school all-around gymnastics title in 1972 and was also named the Inland Empire Woman Athlete of the Year (youngest athlete to win this title). She attended Southern Illinois University in 1974 on a full ride gymnastics scholarship and was one of only a dozen female athletes (nationwide) to receive this honor. Unfortunately, her gymnastics career ended after a serious knee injury at the Olympic Trials in 1975.
     Driven to stay involved with the sport, Laurie went to work for AMF’s sports equipment division and she traveled the world helping promote the sport and sell AMF’s gym equipment. She returned to Spokane in 1977 to join her Mom and sisters in the family business, Best Line Answering Service in downtown Spokane. Working alongside her sisters and having the three girls back together brought Laurie so much joy. Laurie shared the same silly sense of humor and pizzazz for life with her sisters and so the numerous office practical jokes, coordinated Halloween costumes, and years of working together were some of her favorite times.
     Laurie married Barry Baker in 1984 (divorced in 2004) and they had three kids together. Brooke (Steve Spink) (31), Bubba (25), and Bailey (22). Laurie is survived by her three children, her son in law Steve, sisters Vickie and Suzie, brother in laws Terry and Chris, and nephews Kyle, Kevin, and Blake. Family was important to Laurie and she loved spending time with them in the sun, listening to music, and just being together and laughing.
     Those that knew Laurie always appreciated her witty sense of humor and her ability to make those around her feel special and loved. She was known for her generosity and kindness to all who knew her and to say she will be missed is a grave understatement.
     The family wishes to invite all who would like to attend her memorial service which will be held on Friday, March 23rd at 3:00pm at the Bing Crosby Theater (901 W. Sprague Avenue, Spokane, WA 99201) followed by a celebration of life at the Pavilion Room at Northern Quest Resort and Casino (100 N. Hayford Road, Airway Heights, WA 99001) at 4:30pm.